Braun, Georg (d. 1529)
Georg Braun, a South German Anabaptist martyr, who was beheaded at the end of February 1529 on the market square in Schweinfurt on the command of Count Wilhelm von Henneberg. He had been baptized in 1528 at an Anabaptist meeting at Sennfeld. On 19 December 1528 a number of Anabaptists were seized in their homes. At their trial the information was given that several weavers of Schweinfurt had taken part in their meetings, who took to flight when they were summoned by the council. One of these, Georg Braun, returned voluntarily and presented himself to the authorities, He was imprisoned and cross-examined on 20 January 1529 by the Schweinfurt parson, Johannes Ort. He confessed that he had erred and that he would change his Anabaptist views. But he soon repented of his recantation, made under the pressure of fear, and declared to a delegation of the council on 10 February 1529 that he would persevere in his Anabaptist faith.
From the confession he made at this time we cite the following points: "The Anabaptists baptized none who did not wish it." "They did not meet to foment insurrection, but to instruct one another in God's Word." "If anyone consented to their cause and conduct, he had to promise them that he would refrain from blasphemy, the oath, excessive drinking and other debauchery and would serve God alone, and if anyone lacked food he would aid the destitute, but not those who would waste their food, but in everything be honest and kind." "Concerning the holy sacrament, he wanted to keep it as the Almighty God has instituted it. But no one could show him in the Scriptures that God meant the bread that He handed the disciples, but he did not think otherwise than that He meant the body which was there in person." "It was not true, as was reported, that women and girls were held in common among them, for that would not be godly, but devilish." "They do not forbid going to church." "Concerning government, he says that all government is instituted by God."
Bibliography
Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. Mennonitisches Lexikon, 4 vols. Frankfurt & Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967: v. I, 257.
Wappler, Paul. Die Täuferbewegung in Thüringen von 1526-1584. Jena: Gustav Fisher, 1913.
| Author(s) | Christian Neff |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1953 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Neff, Christian. "Braun, Georg (d. 1529)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Braun,_Georg_(d._1529)&oldid=75968.
APA style
Neff, Christian. (1953). Braun, Georg (d. 1529). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Braun,_Georg_(d._1529)&oldid=75968.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 407. All rights reserved.
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